Watch Championship Card LIVE on ESPN+ PPV starting at 8:00 PM ET
Watch Undercard LIVE on ESPN+ starting at 5:30 PM ET
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league in the world, wraps up another historic season with MMA’s Richest Night, the 2023 PFL World Championship. Tonight’s stacked card features six world championship bouts and some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts (MMA). The 2023 PFL World Championship takes place at The Anthem in Washington D.C. Tonight’s main event features a PFL Lightweight Championship bout between 2022 champion “The Canadian Gangster” Olivier Aubin-Mercier of Canada and two-time semifinalist “Cassius” Clay Collard of the United States.
Currently 9-0 in the PFL, Aubin-Mercier makes his second straight trip to the finals and looks to join an elite list of two-time PFL champions, including the likes of Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III, Natan Schulte, and Lance Palmer. Standing in Aubin-Mercier’s way is fan-favorite Collard, who has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting fighters. Since coming to the PFL, Collard has defeated the likes of Anthony Pettis, Jeremy Stephens, Stevie Ray, and Shane Burgos. This season, “Cassius” Clay finally breaks through for a Championship bout and is one win away from bringing home PFL gold. In the co-headliner, the PFL Heavyweight Championship is on the line as Denis Goltsov of Russia faces Renan “Problema” Ferreira of Brazil. Goltsov enters his first PFL championship fight riding a five-fight winning streak which includes three straight wins by way of stoppage. Goltsov stopped the likes of Cezar Ferreira, Yorgan De Castro, and Jordan Heiderman to earn a spot in the finale. Possibly the most feared striker in the PFL, Ferreira also makes his PFL championship debut off the strength of first-round KO wins against Matheus Scheffel and Maurice Greene. “Problema” owns two of the three fastest knockouts in PFL Heavyweight history, and will look to add another highlight reel stoppage on his way to the title. For the first time in PFL history, a female featherweight champion will be crowned, as Larissa Pacheco of Brazil meets Marina Mokhnatkina of Russia for the inaugural PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship. Last season, Pacheco did the seemingly impossible, as she captured the PFL Women’s Lightweight Championship, and in the process handed the previously-undefeated Kayla Harrison the first loss of her career. This season, Pacheco continued to be a dominant force in the women’s 145-pound division with victories over Julia Budd, Amber Leibrock, and Olena Kolesnyk. Pacheco is on track to make history as the league’s first two-division titleholder. Mokhnatkina enters her first championship bout with the momentum of three straight victories against the likes of Leibrock, Yoko Higashi, and Evelyn Martins. Tonight, the Russian grappler targets her first PFL championship. Other title bouts on the night include Sadibou Sy against Magomed Magomedkerimov for the PFL Welterweight Championship, Joshua Silveria versus Impa Kasanganay for the PFL Light Heavyweight Championship, and Gabriel Braga taking on Jesus Pinedo for the PFL Featherweight Championship. Also on the card, two-time champion Kayla Harrison makes her PFL return against Aspen Ladd, Derek Brunson makes his PFL debut against two-time champion Ray Cooper III, and Biaggio Ali Walsh meets Joel Lopez in an amateur showcase bout.
Here is the full fight card:
ESPN+ PPV Championship Card PFL Lightweight Championship Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Clay Collard PFL Heavyweight Championship Denis Goltsov vs. Renan Ferreira PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship Larissa Pacheco vs. Marina Mokhnatkina PFL Welterweight Championship Sadibou Sy vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov PFL Light Heavyweight Championship Joshua Silveira vs. Impa Kasanganay Women’s Catchweight (150 lbs) Showcase Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd Middleweight Showcase Ray Cooper III vs. Derek Brunson ESPN+ Undercard PFL Featherweight Championship Gabriel Braga vs. Jesus Pinedo Lightweight Amateur Bout Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Joel Lopez Bantamweight Showcase Khai Wu vs. Phil Caracappa Featherweight Showcase Jesse Stirn vs. Josh Blyden